Questions
997 questions in the encyclopedia.
What is the most blasphemous film ever?
What is the most blasphemous film ever made? This entry gathers the contenders — from Monty Python's Life of Brian and The Last Temptation of Christ to The Passion of the Christ, Jesus Christ Superstar and others — each argued by some to be the most blasphemous of all.
What is the most controversial documentary ever made?
What is the most controversial documentary ever made? This entry gathers the contenders — among them Jesus Camp, Bowling for Columbine, Capturing the Friedmans, Earthlings, The Act of Killing and Titicut Follies.
What is the purpose of abstract art?
What is abstract art for? This entry sets out the positions on its purpose — that it lets the artist perceive beyond the tangible world, and that it represents an emancipation of the mind from representation.
What is the purpose of art?
What is art for? This entry maps the competing accounts of art's purpose — that it exists for self-expression, for communication, for entertainment and self-improvement, and to serve practical, functional ends.
What is the purpose of life?
An age old question, that drives so much human energy to explore and understand. From religion, to work, to family, to friends, to pleasure, to exploration, to discovery, to ambition... much of our lives are spent in search of a meaning for life itself. Is there a reason behind our being?
What is the purpose of mythology?
From the Greek pantheon to the Roman Dii Consentes to the Nordic gods and goddesses, mythology has played a major role in human culture for centuries. Evidently, the stories these people told shaped their societies, worldviews, and day-to-day lives, but why did they tell them in the first place?
What is the purpose of prisons?
Is the point of prisons to restrict freedom as punishment for crimes committed? Should prisons be rehabilitative? Are prisoners supposed to emerge from the experience deterred from committing future crimes and morphed into law-abiding citizens?
What is the role of the police in America?
The American police force has the capacity to do most anything, but there is currently much controversy about what exactly they should be doing. Given the police’s almost boundless authority, defining their job is imperative to maintaining our constitutional rights while keeping everyone as safe as possible.
What is the Shakespeare authorship debate?
William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest English-speaking writer in history and the world's greatest dramatist. But in an authorship debate that dates back to the Victorian Era, some people believe Shakespeare did not write the plays and poems accredited to him. So who did?
What is the significance of the 32 symbols found in caves all over Europe?
What do the recurring symbols painted in Ice Age caves across Europe mean? This entry maps the interpretations — that they are a precursor to writing, that negative handprints signalled 'I was here', and that they rewrite the timeline of human art.
What is the significance of the Peace of Westphalia?
This entry maps the significance attributed to the 1648 Peace of Westphalia — from ending the Thirty Years' War and extending religious tolerance to establishing precedents for state sovereignty, diplomacy and the European balance of power.
What is the sociological definition of a family?
The concept of “family” has evolved in recent decades. The intolerant view of a nuclear family, where a man and woman in wedlock have children and the male provides while the female undertakes child care responsibilities, no longer applies to many modern family units. So, what is a family?
What is the solution to youth unemployment?
What is the best remedy for youth unemployment? This entry maps the proposed solutions — education and training programmes, better access to capital for young people, skills matching, and universal internet access.
What is the Tories' biggest trick?
This entry sets out competing takes on the British Conservative Party's most effective political manoeuvre — that their biggest trick is convincing the public they have a plan, and that it is keeping their message simple.
What is the world’s most offensive sitcom?
What is the most offensive sitcom ever made? This entry gathers the contenders — among them the notorious 'Heil Honey I'm Home!', 'All My Babies' Mamas', 'Work It', and, more debatably, Family Guy and M*A*S*H.
What lasting impact will COVID-19 have on the U.S. healthcare industry?
The healthcare industry has remained relatively the same even in the face of digital transformation and wider societal change. For example, most doctors still use pagers which were first invented in 1928! However, during COVID-19, the entire healthcare system was put to the test. In many parts of the country, essential equipment such as ventilators and N95 masks were running low. Doctors and nurses were working overtime but they were denied hazard pay. Many challenges during this time revealed intricate flaws within the system. There is bound to be massive reform in the industry following the pandemic.
What lessons can Europe learn from Sweden's Covid-19 experience?
Sweden's light-touch pandemic response set it apart from its neighbours. This entry maps what Europe might learn from it — lessons about the effectiveness of lockdowns, and lessons about the pursuit of herd immunity.
What makes a martyr?
What makes someone a martyr? This entry maps the competing definitions — that a martyr is one who dies for a belief they hold, one who dies for others, and one who dies to advance a cause.
What makes for a good horror movie?
What makes a horror film truly frightening? This entry gathers the contending ingredients — among them fear of death, darkness, creeping creatures, eerie places, disfigurement, suspense, spooky music and the questioning of reality.
What makes star quality?
Celebrities are people who inspire and rise above the rest of us. They are stars who shine down. Celebrities appear like divine versions of the rest of the crowd. But what exactly makes "a star"? Is it a combination of many qualities like charisma and talent? Or does one characteristic seem to be the most important?
What powers are vested in the Executive Branch?
The president holds both expressed powers, granted explicitly by the Constitution, and implied powers, which are not expressly stated but have been accepted as necessary to successfully defend the Constitution.
What role did Fidel Castro play in the Cuban Revolution?
Fidel Castro was the Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976 and the President of Cuba from 1976 to 2008. Castro led the 1959 Cuban Revolution, which ousted the U.S backed military-dictator Fulgencio Batista. Under Castro, Cuba became a single-party communist state in which most industries were entirely nationalized. Castro played various roles in the Cuban Revolution and the formation of Cuba's economic and political system, with many of his educational and healthcare related reforms still being evident in the nation's current government.
What separates humans from animals?
For some, it is obvious that we are not the same as animals. But is it just our ability to imagine and create stories about there being a difference that separates us? Or is there something more tangible?
What should the legal status of prostitution be?
Sometimes called ‘the world’s oldest profession’, prostitution holds a complex cultural place. While it is underpinned by gender norms and has been linked to violence, it also represents a source of agency for some and a viable career option for many. Should it be treated like any other job by the state? And if the state wishes to curtail prostitution, is making it illegal the best option?
What should the official sport of Canada be?
Canadians love their sport, and the icy north is a great climate for a number of sports. But what is the favorite sport of Canadians? What should be the official sport of Canada?
What should we do about climate change?
We are in a climate crisis. People and natural systems around the world are feeling the impacts of a warming globe, from more intense heat waves, more intense storms, heavier rainfall, melting sea ice and retreating glaciers, etc, etc. No part of our world is left untouched, and given the current rate of warming, things will only get worse. So what can we do to mitigate global warming?
What should we use as gender-neutral pronouns for non-binary people?
Many have debated about what gender-neutral pronouns should be used. Is it up to personal identity, or should a specific set be officially incorporated into the English language?
What was Italy's Immigration Debate in 2018 about?
In 2016, over 180,000 migrants reached Italy by irregular means. During the first ten months of 2018, this number had dropped to under 21,000. Although the number of unauthorized immigrants in Italy has been decreasing over the last decade, racial tensions have increased after a mix of anti-immigrant campaigns, fake news and horrific tragedies. As a result, “immigration” is the nation’s most discussed issue. There are currently over 5 million regular immigrants in Italy. The IDOS research centre estimated that the number of unauthorized immigrants would be about 500.000. Many of them are asylum seekers whose claim to international protection was denied. Some can’t go back to their country due to bureaucratic problems, some others receive the "foglio di via" (expulsion paper) but the authorities fail to make sure that they actually leave the nation. What do Italians think about it?
What were the causes of the English Reformation?
The English Reformation in the 16th century began when Henry VIII was not able to divorce his wife. The English Reformation was part of a larger European movement, fuelled by the printing press and a number of charismatic theologians.
What will be President Donald Trump's legacy?
The curtain has fallen on the Trump presidency, albeit with an encore in the form of a second impeachment. The nation's Capitol still bears the scars of an open rebellion, the public is still struggling in the midst of a pandemic that some countries have brought under control, and American democracy has been tested in ways previously unimaginable in times of peace. Any one of these failures would be enough to define a president's legacy, but Trump has all of them and more. When all is said and done, what will President Trump's legacy be?
What will the future of work be?
The future of work is being shaped by two powerful forces: the growing adoption of artificial intelligence in the workplace, and the expansion of the workforce. What changes could be in store for the workplace, the workforce, and the nature of work itself?
What would a world without prisons be like?
What would a society without prisons actually look like? This entry maps the positions on prison abolition — that it would mean upending the current justice system, and that it would mean confronting root causes like inequality, education and employment.
What's driving China's burgeoning second-hand fashion market?
What is fuelling the rapid growth of China's second-hand fashion market? This entry maps the explanations — vast overall demand for apparel, the influence of Chinese influencers, and a growing taste for affordable luxury.
What's happening in Belarus?
In 2020 mass protests erupted in Belarus after the public felt the presidential election was rigged. But the situation is much more complex than just that, with a number of factors driving the unrest. So what is happening in Belarus?
What's next for all-you-can-eat buffets?
Can the all-you-can-eat buffet survive a post-pandemic world? This entry maps the positions on its future — that buffets will disappear, that they will continue unchanged, and that they will endure but in altered form.
What's the best debate format?
Competitive debating has become one of the most popular extracurricular activities for both high school and university students. Around the world, people engage in many different formats of debating, from the formal, cooperate Model United Nations format to the rapid-fire, argumentative Policy format. Out of so many formats, what exactly is the best?
What's the best economic model to describe capitalism?
Capitalism has been modelled and explained through many competing economic frameworks. This entry asks which model best describes how capitalism actually works, weighing the rival schools of economic thought against one another.
What's the problem with 'WAP'?
In August 2020, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion broke streaming world records with their rap duet "WAP". Its critics point to its allegedly raunchy video and lyrics, calling its proud descriptions of female arousal as morally corrupt, anti-feminist and grotesque. Others say that lyrics such as “I said certified freak, seven days a week” are liberating; that they reclaim female sexual agency and empower marginalised groups.
When does a good attitude become toxic positivity?
When does relentless optimism curdle into 'toxic positivity'? This entry maps the answers — that it occurs when bad feelings are denied legitimacy, when people are shamed for not being positive, and when they pressure themselves to ignore hard emotions.
When will coronavirus end?
It is July 28th, 2020. With lockdowns easing all over the world, some say a second wave of coronavirus will come into force by the end of the year. Others that the pandemic will fade. Is this true? How long before we get rid of the coronavirus?
Where did the speakers of Proto-Indo-European live?
Proto-Indo-European is the ancient ancestor of many of the world's languages, including Russian, Farsi, English, and Greek. However, since it was never written and was spoken around 5000 years ago, scientists are still unsure of who its speakers were and where--and when--they lived.
Where does 420 come from?
For stoners worldwide, the 20th of April has long represented a day of celebration. Known commonly as '4:20' participants spend the day smoking cannabis and glorifying the culture that comes with it. But why? Competing theories exist over its origins. So, where does 420 come from?
Where does knowledge come from?
Where does knowledge come from. Does knowledge emerge from data? Or is rationalist thought the origin of knowledge? Might knowledge be a gift from god? Or is true knowledge even possible?
Where is Blackbeard's treasure?
Did the pirate Blackbeard leave behind a hidden fortune, and where? This entry gathers the rival claims about the treasure's location — among them Beaufort in North Carolina, the Caribbean, Virginia's Chesapeake Bay and the Cayman Islands.
Where is Jimmy Hoffa?
In 1975, James (Jimmy) Hoffa, a powerful teamsters union leader with ties to organized crime, disapeared outside of a restaurant in a Detroit suburb. Although it is widely believed by most historians and investigators that Hoffa was murdered by his enemies in the Mafia, the details of the murder, including where his body is located, and how the murder was carried out remain a mystery.
Where is Kim Jong-un?
In April 2020 the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has not been seen in public for over two weeks and his whereabouts remain a mystery. While nothing has come out of the famously secretive state to suggest he is anything but well, others claim he is fighting for his life, or even dead.
Where is the ark of the covenant today?
Where is the lost Ark of the Covenant? This entry gathers the rival claims about its resting place — among them Mount Nebo, Ethiopia, southern Africa, Chartres Cathedral, Rome, Ireland and Tutankhamun's tomb.
Where is the best place to read?
The only thing that can make a good book better is the perfect place to read it. Is a book best enjoyed in the comfort of your own home, or in a public library? Perhaps it's best to read outside, in a cafe or on public transport? What are the pros and cons of each?
Where is the City of Troy?
The City of Troy is known for being the location of the famous Trojan war between the Greeks and Trojans. This war is described in Homer's Iliad, an Ancient Greek epic poem. But was Troy just a literary or mythological location or does it really exist to this day? If so, where is it?
Where is the stolen Nazi gold?
What became of the gold looted by the Nazis during the Second World War? This entry gathers the rival claims about where the stolen Nazi gold ended up — among them the Vatican, Switzerland and Portugal.